Peabody is the building, Jack is the dog, and I'm Dean J (she/her, btw).

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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Towards the end of every reading season, we gather to talk about which
essay questions elicited great responses, which ones could be tweaked to
be better, and which essays we'd like to retire. We often pull students
into our discussions to get their perspectives. Conversations we have at Days on the Lawn and other admitted student events sometimes come into play as well. Some essays work year after year and others need tweaking. This year, we've made

1. We are looking for passionate students to join our diverse
community of scholars, researchers, and artists. Answer the question
that corresponds to the school/program to which you are applying in a
half page or roughly 250 words.

College of Arts and Sciences - What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - If you were given funding for a small engineering project that
would make everyday life better for one friend or family member, what would you do?

School of Architecture - Describe an instance or place where you have been inspired by architecture or design.

School of Nursing - Discuss experiences that led you to choose the School of Nursing.

Kinesiology Program - Discuss experiences that led you to choose the kinesiology major.

2. Answer one of the following questions in a half page or roughly 250 words.

What’s your favorite word and why?

We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks
and why it is part of who you are.

Student self-governance, which encourages student investment and
initiative, is a hallmark of the UVA culture. In her fourth year at UVA,
Laura Nelson was inspired to create Flash Seminars, one-time classes
which facilitate high-energy discussion about thought-provoking topics
outside of traditional coursework. If you created a Flash Seminar, what
idea would you explore and why?

UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share
information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and
why is this your message?

A note about word limits:
The word limits are
there so you know that we are expecting short statements, not term
papers. Be concise and thoughtful in your statement statement and try to
convey your voice and style in your words. This is the one spot on your
application where your personality gets to shine, so don't treat this
like a formal school assignment.

We are looking
forward to seeing what applicants for the Class of 2021 do with these questions! Good luck with your writing!

Thursday, June 02, 2016

In about half an hour, everyone who opted to remain on the waiting list
will receive an email from Dean Roberts letting them know that the Class
of 2020 is complete. We won't be making any more offers of admission
and it is time to release the waiting list.

I know this isn't happy news for those who have remained on the waiting list. You may not be joining us in the fall, but I'm confident
that you are going to have a wonderful first year.

Please be sure to check the email account associated with your Common App account for Dean Roberts' email.

Best wishes for a relaxing summer and an exciting start to your college career!